Russian Defense Ministry describes situation in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, and Mariupol as humanitarian catastrophe

MOSCOW. March 4 (Interfax) - A vast part of Ukraine, including such big cities as Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv and Mariupol, have been hit by a humanitarian catastrophe, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"A catastrophic humanitarian situation has occurred in a vast part of Ukraine; unfortunately, it is rapidly deteriorating," head of the Russian National Defense Control Center Col. Gen. Mikhail Mizintsev said.

"The situation is the severest in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Sumy, Chernihiv, Mariupol, and a number of other populated localities. The aforesaid populated localities have been hit by a full-fledged humanitarian catastrophe," he said.